The mother of a 5-year-old girl who police say was thrown over a bridge and into the Tampa Bay says she last saw her daughter on Christmas Eve.

Michelle Kerr says she was woken by authorities early Thursday morning and informed that her daughter, Phoebe Jonchuck, was dead.

St. Petersburg police say Phoebe's dad, John Jonchuck, pulled the girl from the back seat of his car and tossed her over a bridge, 60 feet above the water.

Kerr said Jonchuck had a long history of domestic violence against her, which was corroborated by police reports released Thursday.

Kerr said her daughter loved her father. He is currently in jail facing a murder charge. He had custody of Phoebe.

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